Mike Schwartz Photography
Trendy medium tone wood floor and brown floor family room photo in Chicago with gray walls and a wall-mounted tv

For Decorations Lucullus it’s always about listening to the client, but when the project is a historical property, it is about listening carefully to the spirit of the rooms as well. All style is part alchemy, a bit of conjuring and nerves of steel to accept what is honestly appropriate. These lovely old rooms had lived a very grand past. Miraculously the owner was open to the challenge of trying, just for fun, to see if that past could be recaptured without compromising present-day comforts. We all learned in the process that the old can be as luxuriously commodious as anything the “modern” can promise.

So often clients are happy to focus on design details in a dedicated media room but tend to let things slide in the living room. This is unfortunate since the majority of their entertainment time is spent there. Compromise starts with the typical TV over the fireplace, a conspicuous mount and visible components. Then there are compromises in sound by using a sound bar, that although better than built-in TV speakers due to it’s limited size, does not have the ideal speaker separation needed for better stereo and surround sound. This client moved into this house with a clean slate and a desire to skip all those mistakes.

JAMI is a hidden TV lift cabinet that is clean, crisp, and chic. Its minimalistic style will stand the test of time. The white oak solid wood doors allow for the wood grain to be the focus, bringing a touch of warmth and classic charm. The JAMI provides a sleek and unobtrusive solution for concealing your television when it's not in use, while not compromising on your design aesthetic. The lift can be customized according to your needs, allowing you the option of adding a soundbar mount or a 360-degree swivel function. With the addition of the 360-degree swivel the TV can be manually swiveled to view from any angle. This ensures that you never have to compromise on comfort or convenience when it comes to watching TV at home. Plus, our hidden TV lift effortlessly slides out and disappears behind the white oak front doors when not in use. Hide Your TV, Not Your Style.

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

Exterior: architectural character, curb appeal and integration of the project into its setting Interior: creative and innovative use of space including architectural detail and form Functionality of floor plan Environmental considerations (energy, comfort, health) Construction details/techniques to achieve industry best practices By design, this laneway residence is an intelligently-planned, small-scale replication of the main, single-family house. Natural-stone façades, mullioned windows, and aggregate sidewalks/paths honour homes heritage as a family farm. Cedar hedges provide separation between main home’s backyard and laneway’s private patio for relaxing or al fresco dining/barbecuing. A non-compromise space for anyone who loves outdoor dining/entertaining. Main-floor offers flexible living space for diverse range of lifestyles. Residents enjoy an upper-level master-suite plus a lower-level flex-space (guest bedroom, home-office, artist studio) off the main living area. The best of all worlds in a compact/affordable space. Kitchen features full-sized range and refrigerator. Undermount sink (with window above) create unanticipated, much-appreciated natural light penetration. Sliding door provides access to mechanical room without compromising cooking-space in compact kitchen. Great-room is a comfortable, cozy, flexible space. Lots of room for a dining-room table as well. Feels like a single-family home just in a more compact, easy care format. Bathroom with compact shower on main floor: easily accessible for overnight guests or roommates. Upper-floor master-suite includes private east-facing balcony--perfect for morning coffee!--and urban savvy ensuite with dramatic, green-glass subway-tile shower/soaker-tub surround (with window above). Full-size laundry tucked into upper-floor vaulted laundry supports residents' active lifestyle. Engineered, white-oak hardwood flooring throughout. Built to PassiveHaus standards (certification pending), high-level environmental-savvy features include state-of-the-art Lifebreath HRV (removes bacteria from interior air), radiant in-floor heating, and on-demand, tankless hot-water.

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

The home owners were particularly focused on the budget for this project, therefore, the designer, project manager and trades worked together to come up with creative solutions that would not compromise quality and allow for the best product to meet the clients wants, needs and desires. Meeting space constraints in the kitchen / dining was also of key consideration. The space did not allow for the inclusion of a island so it was configured with a U-shape, which did not compromise storage space and allowed for bar height seating at the peninsula counter top. Additional storage was added in the dining area in the form of a built in hutch to match the kitchen cabinetry.

Cibes Primo Home Elevator – Black with Laminated Glass The Cibes Symmetry Primo is a premium self-supporting home elevator that combines Scandinavian design with advanced engineering to create a stunning architectural feature in any home. Finished in elegant black with full laminated glass sides, this luxury residential elevator offers panoramic views, abundant natural light, and a sleek contemporary aesthetic that complements modern and transitional home designs. Unlike traditional residential elevators, the Cibes Primo requires no machine room, no conventional elevator shaft, and minimal construction, making it an ideal solution for both new custom homes and renovation projects. Its self-supporting design reduces installation time while preserving valuable living space, allowing homeowners to add accessibility without compromising the home's architecture. The all-glass cabin creates an open, airy feel while laminated safety glass enhances durability, security, and peace of mind. Whether installed in a foyer, living room, stairwell, or open-concept space, the Primo becomes a centerpiece that adds both function and sophistication. Powered by Cibes Symmetry's proven screw-driven lift technology, the Primo delivers exceptionally smooth, quiet operation with low maintenance requirements. Advanced safety features include obstruction sensors, battery-powered emergency lowering, emergency communication, automatic lighting, and intuitive controls for dependable everyday performance. Perfect For: Luxury homes Modern and contemporary home design Aging in place Wheelchair accessibility Multigenerational living New home construction Home renovations and remodels Designed for homeowners who refuse to compromise between style and accessibility, the Cibes Symmetry Primo transforms vertical transportation into a design statement. Its striking black finish, panoramic laminated glass enclosure, premium craftsmanship, and space-saving design make it one of the most elegant and innovative home elevators available today.

King of the Painters King of the Painters is the king of the painting jungle when it comes to interior and exterior projects. Our services include simple repainting of interior and exterior walls, basic and finished carpentry services, wall texturing, special wall surface effects (such as “marbleizing” and “faux finishes”), installation of recessed ceiling lights, all the way to drywall and acoustical ceiling repair. We also offer expert application of color glazes, specialty industrial coatings, including industrial enamels, epoxy, and urethane coatings. We are proud of the fact that a major portion of our new clients are referrals. King of the Painters, Inc. has earned its reputation by not only being locally owned and operated, but by ensuring quality and satisfaction. Our goal is to minimize the hassles typically associated with painting and construction work by making your painting project an enjoyable experience . . . rather than one you would like to forget. Remember, there is no substitute or compromise for quality and professionalism. Just ask some of our past and current clients gladly provided on request! Whether you need to paint your home, business, office building, shopping center or homeowners association, request a royal appointment right now by calling us anytime for a free, no-obligation estimate and expert color consultation.King of the Painters King of the Painters is the king of the painting jungle when it comes to interior and exterior projects. Our services include simple repainting of interior and exterior walls, basic and finished carpentry services, wall texturing, special wall surface effects (such as “marbleizing” and “faux finishes”), installation of recessed ceiling lights, all the way to drywall and acoustical ceiling repair. We also offer expert application of color glazes, specialty industrial coatings, including industrial enamels, epoxy, and urethane coatings. We are proud of the fact that a major portion of our new clients are referrals. King of the Painters, Inc. has earned its reputation by not only being locally owned and operated, but by ensuring quality and satisfaction. Our goal is to minimize the hassles typically associated with painting and construction work by making your painting project an enjoyable experience . . . rather than one you would like to forget. Remember, there is no substitute or compromise for quality and professionalism. Just ask some of our past and current clients gladly provided on request! Whether you need to paint your home, business, office building, shopping center or homeowners association, request a royal appointment right now by calling us anytime for a free, no-obligation estimate and expert color consultation.

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.

The sunroom addition doubles up as a bright and open home office workspace. The adjacent pressure treated deck space helps extend the outdoor living experience to beyond the home office or addition itself. The large number of windows helps make the most of the bright natural light coming in, but also provides a great view of the backyard, without compromising on the backyard views. Gives a bright, airy, warm space in the winters as well as summers, to spend time in and engage in different activities without compromise.

This gorgeous house needed window treatments, not only for the aesthetic, but functional reasons as well. The owner wanted to keep an open and airy feel for each space and be able to block some of the harsh sunlight, all without compromising the beautiful views that they have. With almost no space for rods and not to compromise the integrity of the moldings, soft relaxed roman shades was chosen that mimic the shapes of its windows instead of drapes.

Karen and Jeff wanted to convert their original 1980’s bathroom into a modern looking fully wheelchair accessible bathroom with a barrier-free entry into the shower and separate water closet. They liked the design technique of combining a shower and tub into one “wet area” while keeping the accessibility features. We got to work designing a bathroom layout that would work with the existing main drain system in the home. We wanted to bring in as much daylight into the bathroom without compromising daylight in the shower and tub area. Our solution was to incorporate interior acrylic “glass block” awning windows in the design of the shower and tub area to bring in daylight without compromising privacy. The modern stand alone tub with floor mounted tub filler, shower head/sprayer on a slide bar, shower caddy for soap and shampoo, and bench seat combined to create a wonderfully accessible and functional bathing area.

The home owners were particularly focused on the budget for this project, therefore, the designer, project manager and trades worked together to come up with creative solutions that would not compromise quality and allow for the best product to meet the clients wants, needs and desires. Meeting space constraints in the kitchen / dining was also of key consideration. The space did not allow for the inclusion of a island so it was configured with a U-shape, which did not compromise storage space and allowed for bar height seating at the peninsula counter top. Additional storage was added in the dining area in the form of a built in hutch to match the kitchen cabinetry.

Exterior: architectural character, curb appeal and integration of the project into its setting Interior: creative and innovative use of space including architectural detail and form Functionality of floor plan Environmental considerations (energy, comfort, health) Construction details/techniques to achieve industry best practices By design, this laneway residence is an intelligently-planned, small-scale replication of the main, single-family house. Natural-stone façades, mullioned windows, and aggregate sidewalks/paths honour homes heritage as a family farm. Cedar hedges provide separation between main home’s backyard and laneway’s private patio for relaxing or al fresco dining/barbecuing. A non-compromise space for anyone who loves outdoor dining/entertaining. Main-floor offers flexible living space for diverse range of lifestyles. Residents enjoy an upper-level master-suite plus a lower-level flex-space (guest bedroom, home-office, artist studio) off the main living area. The best of all worlds in a compact/affordable space. Kitchen features full-sized range and refrigerator. Undermount sink (with window above) create unanticipated, much-appreciated natural light penetration. Sliding door provides access to mechanical room without compromising cooking-space in compact kitchen. Great-room is a comfortable, cozy, flexible space. Lots of room for a dining-room table as well. Feels like a single-family home just in a more compact, easy care format. Bathroom with compact shower on main floor: easily accessible for overnight guests or roommates. Upper-floor master-suite includes private east-facing balcony--perfect for morning coffee!--and urban savvy ensuite with dramatic, green-glass subway-tile shower/soaker-tub surround (with window above). Full-size laundry tucked into upper-floor vaulted laundry supports residents' active lifestyle. Engineered, white-oak hardwood flooring throughout. Built to PassiveHaus standards (certification pending), high-level environmental-savvy features include state-of-the-art Lifebreath HRV (removes bacteria from interior air), radiant in-floor heating, and on-demand, tankless hot-water.

Complete Hillside Backyard Renovation, El Paso – by GoDesigns This breathtaking backyard transformation in the historic area of El Paso, Texas, is a shining example of GoDesigns’ vision, expertise, and resilience. Situated on a challenging hillside property, the original backyard installed in 2005 was plagued by critical design flaws that led to a complete failure of the outdoor space. The existing negative edge pool, improperly installed with insufficient grade, drainage, and support, caused massive water loss and structural issues. The consequences were severe — the side rock wall broke in half, the backyard destabilized, and even a portion of the house was compromised. GoDesigns was brought in to turn crisis into opportunity. During the height of COVID-19, they launched Phase 1 of a multi-phase master plan to restore and reinvent the space. The entire backyard was demolished, including the compromised pool shell. The broken negative edge section was filled in, making way for a reimagined pool design. A new, reinforced pool structure was shot, finished with 5cm tumbled travertine coping, oversized mossrock boulders, new waterline tile, and a premium PebbleTec interior. Beneath the beauty lies smart engineering: GoDesigns replaced all plumbing and regraded the property, applying subsurface remediation and compaction techniques to ensure long-term stability. A new rocksalt steel reinforced concrete deck was poured, replacing the narrow wraparound layout with a spacious, functional outdoor living area. Now, the family enjoys ample room for chaise lounges, alfresco dining, and relaxing by the existing outdoor fireplace — luxuries they never had before. GoDesigns didn’t stop there. Advanced drainage systems — including underground piping, box drains, and planter drains — were installed to protect the integrity of the hillside. These systems are integrated into leveled planters that not only beautify the space but also reinforce the structure of the pool and surrounding terrain. Phase 2 focused on upgrading the patio directly outside the main house, while Phase 3 was the final touch — a lush landscape planting plan paired with elegant outdoor lighting to enhance ambiance and curb appeal. What was once a scene of despair is now a luxurious retreat — completed in thoughtfully timed phases over four years. Thanks to GoDesigns’ master planning and unwavering commitment, this hillside haven is a true testament to transformation. The clients are now looking forward to their next chapter: the front yard.